Michael Brissenden presents AM Monday to Friday from 8:00am on ABC Local Radio and 7:10am on Radio National. Join Elizabeth Jackson for the Saturday edition at 8am on Local Radio and 7am on Radio National.

More Current Affairs:

Program Archive:

Tuesday 14 September 1999

AM is Australia's most informative morning current affairs. It covers the stories each morning that the other current affairs teams follow for the rest of the day. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Aust accused of targeting Indon businesses

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Ali Alatas has given the green light to Australian participation in the UN peacekeeping mission to East Timor, but not before accusing Australia of bringing havoc on Indonesian businesses and consulates.

WA Govt considers closing Indon office

The Western Australian Government will confer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade before deciding if it will have to close down its State Government office in the Indonesian city of Surabaya. The regional director, David Edwards, says that two Indonesian office staff and a driver fled the building after being warned of the impending attack and left the office ransacked.

Indon reservations about Aust leadership

As starvation threatens thousands of East Timorese refugees, the Indonesian military still has reservations about Australian forces taking part in the UN peacekeeping mission in East Timor. The military's challenge to Australia's expected leadership of the peacekeepers contradicts statements made by President Habibie and now Foreign Minister Ali Alatas at the United Nations, who have said there are no conditions.

Refugees and staff evacuate UN compound

The RAAF is evacuating most of the people at the UN compound in Dili. About 1,400 Indonesian refugees and some UNAMET staff are being flown to Darwin in an operation that's expected to take most of today and involve 18 Hercules flights.

Aid relief air-drop given green light

The UN Commissioner for Human Rights says that Indonesia has given the green light for an air-drop of relief supplies in East Timor. Mary Robinson says the food drop could start as early as today to starving refugees in the hills of the territory.

High cost of Australian mission

Europe ends arms supply to Indonesia

The European Union has suspended all arms sales to Indonesia for the next four months. Europe is the biggest supplier of military hardware to Indonesia and industry experts say the decision will have a significant impact on the Indonesian military.

Australian police return

Last night Australian Federal Police officers who have spent the past three months trying to keep the peace in East Timor were reunited with their families. The police were part of the international team which was forced to evacuate the province.

Victorian Opposition leader

Only four days until Victoria goes to the polls. And a new poll suggests that Labor is poised to pick up seats from the Kennett Government. The AC Neilsen Age Poll has the two-party preferred vote favouring the Coalition by 52 per cent, to Labor's 48 per cent.

Fear engulfs Moscow after second bombing

Residents of Moscow have been going to bed in fear over the past few hours in the wake of the city's second apartment bombing in less than four days. Police say they also averted a second attack yesterday.